Hugs and tears attested to their realization that the finality of their public education was at hand for about 40 Iola High School seniors who attended baccalaureate services Wednesday evening at First Presbyterian Church.
Tears went beyond the students. Many parents were weepy, particularly when seniors gathered to sing their class song, a haunting rendition of “Sanctuary.”
Baccalaureate, a farewell address in the form of a sermon, once was a staple for graduating seniors, but now is an optional event.
The Rev. Phil Honeycutt, pastor at Covenant of Faith Church, talked about “The Covenant,” which he described as a contract, such as those made every day by teachers, preachers and many others.
“Life is full of covenants,” Honeycutt said. “Your parents had a covenant to raise you and educate you; don’t let anything get you down or prevent you from succeeding. When mom and dad and your best friends aren’t there and all the world is coming at you, remember that a king named Jesus Christ is there for you,” he said. “Don’t let anyone or anything stop you. You have a covenant with God to succeed.”
He called them an “elite group of students we honor in the presence of our Lord.
“All of you didn’t make all A’s, weren’t on the starting five, but you all are champions.”
Pastors David Shelby, Harvest Baptist Church, and Gene McIntosh, Calvary United Methodist Church, read Scriptures and pastors Trudy Kenyon Anderson, Wesley United Methodist Church, and Maureen Olson, First Presbyterian Church, also had roles in the service.
Kenyon Anderson opened with prayer, rejoicing in the successes of the students.
Shelby used a passage from the book of 1 Timothy to encourage the seniors to “… be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
“Be what you want to be and do what you want to do,” Shelby said. “Don’t neglect gifts God has given you.”
McIntosh read verses from 1 Corinthians.
Olson closed with the observation that “when you leave this place you carry with you a blessing.”
Speaker: Seize God’s gifts
